The Molesey Residents Association (MRA) councillor ended up in court after wrongly defaming the town’s football club chairman Norman Clark.

At the High Court in May last year, Cllr Popham conceded that there was no basis for the defamatory comments he made about Mr Clark.

The judge ruled that he should pay damages to Mr Clark as well as a percentage of his costs.

It’s this bill that could put the councillor back in court with Mr Clark, as the chairman’s solicitor is threatening to try and bankrupt Cllr Popham if the outstanding amount is not paid in the near future.

Mr Clark’s legal adviser John Tasselli told the News & Mail this week that Cllr Popham still owes Mr Clark “in excess of £11,000” from the original order for costs of £44,819.

“He has asked for time to pay but has failed to give any information as to why he cannot pay now,” Mr Tasselli said.

He added that on February 12 the High Court sheriff went to Cllr Popham’s East Molesey home.

Mr Tasselli explained that Cllr Popham claimed to the sheriff that he had not been living at the property. “Cllr Popham remains registered as a joint owner of the property and our instructions are to apply for a charging order and possibly bankruptcy,” Mr Clark’s solicitor said.

“Cllr Popham has appealed the costs order but no stay of execution has been obtained.”

If Mr Clark was successful in having Mr Popham declared bankrupt, the councillor could lose his seat on Elmbridge Council.

The original High Court action stemmed from a meeting of the MRA in June 2001 in which Mr Clark’s plans for the football club site were discussed. Mr Clark wants to sell the current stadium site to developers for housing and build a new ground in another part of Molesey.

For the plans to become reality, Mr Clark would need approval from Elmbridge Council to build the houses and the new stadium on the former Molesey Sewage Treatment Works.

The High Court heard that it was during the MRA’s discussions that Cllr Popham made defamatory remarks about Mr Clark.

The court was also told that Cllr Popham accepted that there was no basis for the “damaging and defamatory allegations”.

After the court case, Cllr Popham said he would not be standing down from the council.

He has continued his council work and remains chairman of the Environmental affairs overview and scrutiny committee.